Photo credits: Engin Akyurt (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali C O M B I N E D C O M P L E T E M A R C H / A P R I L R E A D I N G !! Hello lovely readers! While I usually compile a list of monthly reads on a well...monthly basis, I've made the decision to draft up an end-of-month reading post every two months instead. The main reason for this is to give myself more space to really breathe. Those of you who live with chronic illnesses will know that in terms of being a functioning human, you can't pick and choose to be that performative person with the whim and grace of an eagle in flight; there's a pitiful sense of grace, meagre whim and did i say flight? I meant levitating a few inches above ground...on one foot, is as good as it gets; it's your body that dictates an activity, the length and pace of that activity and the effort that goes into it. Those of you who are chronic illness warriors with fellow bibliophile hearts will know that reading comes with a pace that has to suit your shifting needs, and unfortunately, reading isn’t isolated from that lifestyle. While I could read for an entire lifetime, it's as imaginary as going a day without persisting pain or fatigue, and that being said, it's still an undertaking that i can't go without (If this blog speaks at a volume, you might know that reading is the Romeo to my Juliet, but unlike them, I’m hoping that bittersweet parting never comes knocking). You ripe writers have long since given me a small but sizeable space to replace a disturbing reality with raindrops made from stardust. If I could stand under that misted downpour forever, I would. As it is, I'll most likely drown from an inability to make it to safe harbour, unless my rebelling body decides to give up on me quicker. That, or it'll be pressed uder the weight of a stratosphere-reaching TBR list. Such wonderful options, am i right? Vampires. How do you feel about them? While fairies are my mythical creature of choice, I dove straight into Josie Jaffrey's second in series, Judgement Day after excitedly receiving an advanced review copy. I was over the moon. It’s been a bit of a vamp season for me lately, because besides reading about them, I’ve arrived shamelessly late to the Buffy the Vampire craze, and I’m absolutely loving it. I'm fully aware that I'm two decades too late, but in my shallow defense, i was a near-freshly born five-year-old human when the postmodern sensation first aired. I’m in three seasons while being halfway through Jaffrey’s vampire series…and I can’t decide which I like more. There will be some waiting in my near future though, because now I’m itching for Judgement Day’s unborn sibling, which won’t be birthed any time soon. But while I wait, I’ve been back on the romantic reading train (not that I’ve ever left it, it’s the best train to be on my inner romantic demands for me to preach) with plenty of reads for you to take a peek at. While it hasn't been a quality time for manageable health or flexible activity, it has been a better time for reading. While my reading timeline is usually pockmarked with a collective of good, great and not-so-fated reads, I’m delighted that I’ve walked straight into some fantastic reads in the space of these two months. Even more delighted that I get to share them with you. Happy reading friends and please enjoy my March and April reads… 1) Judgement Day by Josie Jaffrey - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5
While vamps aren’t my favoured creature of choice, I adopted their species-specific quirk because my senses were heightened, sharpened and fully-tuned to Judgment Day! Even the half-hearted and most well-read of bibliophiles should read this. C O N T E N T W A R N I N G: One sex scene (the rest are implied or fade-to-black). Profanity. Spiking drinks with drugs. Aggressive and violent behaviour. Biting and blood drinking. Mentions psychosis and retrospectively/briefly mentions rape. Alcohol consumption, bloody descriptions of crime scene and dead bodies. Mentions the use of a hard drug likened to cocaine. You can find my full review of 'Judgement Day' here! - 4.5 S T A R S to Judgement Day 2) Hating My New Boss (Hate Love #1) by B.B. Hamel - Rating ★ ★ 2
I really was disappointed that my first B.B. Hamel pushed me down a hill, so to speak, but as other readers debate the opposite, I’d encourage you to give it a try. I’m a staunch believer that all books take effort and hard work so don’t let my opinion water down your own parade. C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Alcoholism/child abuse. Profanity Mentions depression. The bedroom scenes (which include dom/sub dynamic) are unprotected. You can find my full Goodreads review of 'Hating My New Boss' here! - 2 S T A R S to Hating My New Boss 3) Five Day Fiance (Brewer Brothers #3) by Mickey Miller - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
This book has the invigorating, steady-burning steam factor, strong and steady chemistry, proud character profiles with buoyant wit and a plot that tempers a collision of error, all within a slice of paradise where temptation sunsets a warm and wonderful vista. A must read for all romance enthusiasts. Both the tone and the build up are truly satisfying. Light entertainment for any season and any time. C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Saucy, sexy scenes, swearing and drinking. Mentions drugs in passing. You can find my full review of 'Five Day Fiance' here! - 4 S T A R S to Five Day Fiance 4) Free Me (Free Me #1) by Grahame Claire - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
Free Me isn’t the dreamy, upbeat romance that scorches with spades of steam and froths with laughter. It’s the type of hard-won love story that burns at a pace and rings upliftingly. It’s sober, tentative, deep and resilient but with a comforting measure of humour and uplift. No reader can read this and claim it isn’t a story without heart or importance. There is horror, but the unselfishness and ungrudging kindness that testifies to the wide and wonderful human spirit. This book has a heartfelt center with generous bones and gut that swarms with pain. C O N T E N T W A R N I N G: Mentions cancer. Gives reference to multiple counts of past rape, sexual assault, forced sexual intimacy, incarceration and physical abuse. Episodes of PTSD. Some swearing. Mentions drugs. Violence and blood. One sex scene. All in all, you’ll find adult content and sensitive themes that aren’t suitable for younger readers. You can find my full review of 'Free Me' here! - 4.5 S T A R S to Free Me 5) One Good Reason (Boston Love series #3) by Julie Johnson - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
This book has such an infectious energy that to not feel its touch would be like bypassing the sun’s rays in the thick of summer. This book didn’t have to make a play for me because It already had me for keeps from the baseline. C O N T E N T _ W A R N I N G: Mentions a past attempted rape, implications of sexual assault and child abuse. Mentions depression and sexual harassment. Sex scenes aren’t explicit (some are are fade-to-black). Mentions drugs/drug addiction and you’ll find lots of profanity between the pages. You can find my full review of 'One Good Reason' here! - 4.5 S T A R S to One Good Reason 6) Blood Sky (Broken Mercenaries #1) by S. Massery - Rating ★ ★ ★ 3
Blood Sky has entertaining elements as a dark contemporary romance. It's a good series starter to the Broken Mercenaries series. I had a curious interest that saw me through to the end and I absolutely credit the author for the effort. The plot had desirable elements but the execution, in parts, abandons that desire. Overall, the flow is more on the rugged side and I wasn’t overtly emotionally involved even if I was curious. Still, I think this is a great fit for fans who like their dark romance not too dark. C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Blood, violence, profanity, sex scenes. Mentions drugs, human trafficking, alcohol addiction, PTSD, miscarriage. You can find my Goodreads review of 'Blood Sky' here! - 3 S T A R S to Blood Sky 7) The Rogue King (Inferno Rising #1) by Abigail Owen - Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.5/4
My fire breathing debut wasn’t shy of leaving scorch marks. It definitely set me aglow. A shapeshifting urban fantasy marries a paranormal romance with The Rogue King, one that smolders with suspense. The prologue penetrates straight away, imparting a sacrifice that makes a reader feel the importance of the story to come. The opening scene reads with rapture and the rest leads by example with danger and action that boosts and braces what becomes of a rogue king and a sought-after phoenix. You can find my full review of 'The Rogue King' here! - 3.5/4 S T A R S to The Rogue KingI hope you've enjoyed my March and April reads, but more than that, I truly hope you've enjoyed your own. Stay safe and well, friends. I love interacting with fellow readers and hearing about reader opinion, so if you'd like to talk books or about your own recent reads, get in touch and comment below! H A P P Y R E A D I N G <3 --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- ____________________________________ R E L A T E D P O S T S: ● January/February Reading Wrap Up 2021 ● November/December Reading Wrap Up 2020 ● September Reading Wrap Up 2020 _____________________________________ SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk...
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VaishaliBorn in the UK Archives
February 2024
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